The Recipe Spot

The religious spring holidays begin this weekend with Palm Sunday marking the beginning of Holy Week, followed by Passover on Monday and ending the week with Easter Sunday.

Easter is celebrated by those of the Christian faith and the eight-day spring festival of Passover is celebrated by the Jewish faith.

While both religions share Prophetic similarities steeped in ancient beliefs, with varying traditions, the spring holidays of Passover and Easter are central to both faiths.

Symbolic of freedom, Passover is a Jewish holiday observed for seven days during the Hebrew month of Nisan that commemorates the release of the Israelites from exile after 400 years in ancient Egypt.

The highlight of Passover is the Seder, which is typically observed the first two nights of Passover. Seder traditions include reading from the Haggadah that recounts the dramatic story of Exodus, and Hebrew blessings and prayers.

A special Seder plate is central to the Passover Seder. Each of the six food items on the plate is symbolic of the story about the exodus from Egypt.

Central to the feast is the unleavened bread known as Matzo, symbolic of the Israelites leaving Egypt in haste, not having time for bread dough to rise.

Parallel to the Jewish Passover is the Christian Passover of Easter, which is the most significant and oldest holiday in the Christian religion, which lies in the center of the liturgical year.

Celebrated since the fourth century, Easter marks the end of the 40-day period of Lent, a period of fasting and prayer that began with Ash Wednesday, February 13.

The word Easter comes from the word Eostre, the goddess of spring, which is considered a time of joy that celebrates Jesus’ miraculous resurrection three days after His crucifixion.

Symbols of Easter are spring flowers and eggs, representing new life, resurrection and hope.

Easter festivals and observances vary throughout the world. Easter Sunday typically begins with church services followed by brunch or dinner and is a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate.

With a lot of flavors to draw on, there are traditional foods that can blend both the Passover Seder and Easter table. Whether you observe Passover with certain dietary laws during the Pesach or prefer traditional flavors of spring at the Easter table, celebrate the season with this bountiful salad of Baby Greens with Citrus Dressing that can be served at either celebration.

Baby Greens with Citrus Dressing

Dressing:

Juice from ½ orange

Juice from ½ lemon

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt, to taste

Salad:

4 big handfuls of baby salad greens

½ cup toasted walnut halves

1 whole orange, peeled, and cut into bite-size segments

½ small red onion, diced

Whisk together the orange and lemon juices. Add the olive oil and salt and whisk until well blended. Gently toss the salad greens and onion with the dressing. Add the orange segments and walnuts, and toss again.